After saying goodbye to Lu Yaozhi, Song Cheng went straight to Mom Song’s clothing store. Mom Song was chatting with the woman who ran the handbag shop next door. When she saw Song Cheng arrive, the woman said, “This is your daughter, right? I haven’t seen her in ages. She’s grown taller and prettier, just like you.”
“Has business been good lately, Auntie? It’s been so long. You still look so young and stylish. Standing next to my mom, you two look like sisters.” Song Cheng couldn’t remember the woman’s surname. She only remembered that she seemed to be a few years older than her mom.
“It’s been a while, and not only has she gotten prettier, she’s gotten so sweet-tongued and good-natured, too. If only our boy were as well-behaved and sensible as your Chengcheng, I wouldn’t have to worry so much.” The woman looked at Mom Song as she spoke.
“Boys keep a lot of things to themselves. Didn’t you just say he called to remind you to eat? Where else are you going to find such a filial boy?” Well, one of middle-aged women’s favorite pastimes was trading compliments about each other’s children.
It was lunchtime. Mom Song ordered two dishes from the restaurant next door, then asked as they ate, “Have you seen your results? How many points?”
“623.”
“What’s the cutoff for No. 1 High School?”
“625.”
Mom Song said nothing. She quietly put a piece of Song Cheng’s favorite food in her bowl, thinking that her daughter had been so sensible and cheerful lately, and probably felt bad enough already. There was no need to put more pressure on her.
Seeing the look of concern in Mom Song’s eyes, Song Cheng’s own disappointment soon faded. Ever since the results came out, she had kept thinking that if only she’d come back a little earlier, she could have gone straight to No. 1 High School.
System: 【Bringing you back to the present was already a huge drain on my energy. I can’t do anything else.】
Song Cheng: …You ridiculous system. Where did you learn to talk like that?
Just then, Mom Song said, “Call your uncle in a bit. He’s been saying you have to let him know as soon as your results come out.”
Ignoring the System, Song Cheng said, “I’ll call him in a minute. Mom, I missed the cutoff by just two points. Do you think Uncle could pull some strings and get me into No. 1 High School?”
Mom Song looked at Song Cheng in surprise. “Oh? You’re not worried about your aunt making comments anymore? And you don’t think it’s embarrassing to get in through connections?” Song Cheng had always been stubborn. There had once been a student in her class who’d gotten in through connections, and back then, students were brimming with a sense of justice and constantly gossiped about it behind that student’s back. Song Cheng had been just as opposed to such things. How could Mom Song, who knew her daughter so well, not know what she was like?
Song Cheng thought, When you’re young, you don’t appreciate having connections. It’s only after you enter the working world that you realize how wonderful it is to have a powerful dad.
Song Cheng hung up and told Mom Song, “Uncle said he’ll come over tonight. I’ll go buy some of his favorite dishes. Mom, close the store early and come home tonight.”
“You only know how to butter up your uncle. Your dad’s here, too—he’ll be jealous.”
“I don’t think Dad’s the jealous one, Mom. Aren’t you the one who’s jealous? Don’t worry, you’ll always be my favorite mom.” Song Cheng shook her mother’s hand.
“Enough. You’re always trying to sweet-talk me. Go home and get some rest, and watch out for traffic.”
“Got it.”
At four that afternoon, Song Cheng started washing the vegetables. It was Sunday, and Dad Song had gone to the office unexpectedly. He got back just as Song Cheng finished washing them.
As soon as Dad Song came in, he said, “Your mom told me your uncle’s coming over to talk about your results. It’s too hot in the kitchen. Go rest; I’ll cook.”
Song Cheng set down the vegetables and handed Dad Song the apron. “All right. I haven’t had your cooking in ages, either. I’ll help you.”
Although Song Cheng had redeemed the Complete Cooking Guide, all she had in her head was theory. She would need plenty of practice to reach the beginner level. Since Uncle Qin was coming over tonight, she let Dad Song take charge of dinner.
At half past five, the doorbell rang. Song Cheng opened the door to find Uncle Qin arriving with Mom Song. Mom Song said, “I ran into your uncle at the entrance to the complex. We got back at just the right time.” Dad Song came out with a dish. “Big Brother, you’re here! I’ve just finished cooking, too. You got here at the perfect time. Let’s wash our hands and eat.”
“Mm, I could smell the fish with pickled cabbage from the stairwell. Your cooking just keeps getting better.”
“Then eat plenty tonight. Chengcheng bought the fish at the market this afternoon. She knows how much you like the fish I make, so she picked it out especially for you.”
“Oh, I haven’t been to your place in ages, and Chengcheng still remembers what her uncle likes to eat. And look at her—she’s grown into a young lady.” Uncle Qin patted Song Cheng on the head.
“Hello, Uncle. How come Aunt and Older Cousin didn’t come? I haven’t seen them in ages, either.”
Uncle Qin glanced at Mom Song, thinking that Song Cheng really had changed—even asking after her aunt now. Then he said, “Your aunt’s on duty tonight, and your cousin’s at home doing homework. His final exams are coming up.”
Just then, Mom Song came out to the kitchen to bring the dishes to the table. “All right, the food’s ready. Come sit down and eat. You can talk afterward.”
“Sure, let’s eat. I’m hungry, too,” Uncle Qin said, heading to wash his hands. When he came back, he saw Dad Song holding two glasses and a bottle of Wuliangye. “Oh, have the wine bugs in your stomach woken up? Won’t Changxiu give you a hard time?”
“Tonight, with you here, I can finally have a proper drink. The rest of the time, I don’t touch a drop,” Dad Song said quietly.
“If you knew how to drink in moderation, I wouldn’t bother nagging you. You can’t hold your liquor, and you don’t take care of your health.” Mom Song’s voice rang out.
“I haven’t been drinking lately, have I? Big Brother’s here tonight—are you really not going to let me have a drink?” After hearing Dad Song, Mom Song gave him a sidelong glance and said nothing.
There was no rule at the Song family table against talking while eating. Dad Song and Uncle Qin drank as they talked about work. Before long, they turned to Song Cheng’s high school entrance exam results.
“Chengcheng’s score didn’t reach No. 1 High School’s cutoff, but it’s not impossible to get her in. Every year, some students get in by paying even though they’re a few points short. I’ll speak to Director Zhang in admissions. We should be able to save her a place in Class 12. It’ll cost less to get her in that way.”
“Would that cause trouble for you? If it won’t work, we’ll pay whatever it costs. We just don’t want to cause you any problems,” Dad Song said, worried.
Uncle Qin waved a hand. “It’s fine. I’ve worked at the school for more than ten years; this is nothing. Plenty of teachers at No. 1 High School have helped students get in this way. Some even got in without paying. Chengcheng missed the cutoff by just two points. Even if we went through the proper channels, she could get in; the only question is how much it would cost. I’ll put in a word and see if we can pay less. But Chengcheng, if you get in, you have to study hard. Everyone who gets into No. 1 High School is a top student, so you’ll be under a lot of pressure. You need to be prepared.”
Looking at her uncle as he advised her, Song Cheng remembered how she’d heard that No. 1 High School was stressful in her previous life—and that she’d ended up in the bottom-ranked class of the first year. She couldn’t bring herself to feel happy about it. Back then, she’d thought, “It’s better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix.” But who would have guessed she’d still end up at the tail of the chicken?
“I understand, Uncle. I’ve been really good lately, and I promise I won’t let you down. I’ll make you proud,” Song Cheng said earnestly.
“Ah, well, I’ll hold you to that. Don’t just make big promises.” Uncle Qin patted Song Cheng on the head.
After dinner, Uncle Qin went home. Before leaving, he said to wait for his call; he’d get back to them within a week. Song Cheng walked him to a taxi and said, “Uncle, tell Older Cousin to save his first-year high school textbooks for me. I’ll come by your place to get them sometime. I want to get a head start on the first-year curriculum.”
“Sure. He still has all his first-year books. Come get them whenever you’re free.”
After seeing her uncle off, Song Cheng went back to her books.
Time passed in a busy blur, and Song Cheng had finished reviewing the second-year curriculum. One evening, Mom Song received a call from Uncle Qin. He said No. 1 High School had accepted Song Cheng, and she could register when school started in August. She wouldn’t have to pay the school-choice fee, either. The admission notice would arrive in a few days. As a special-grade teacher, Uncle Qin had an enrollment slot.
With the school issue settled, Song Cheng devoted herself completely to studying. She got up at seven every morning and used the skincare products she’d bought from the System. As the System put it, “You may be naturally beautiful now, but how can a beauty not take good care of herself?” So, after redeeming the taekwondo tutorial, she spent all her remaining points on skincare and body-care products. Sometimes Song Cheng marveled at how beautiful a person could become with a cheat like this. She did an hour of yoga every morning, then another hour after her afternoon nap. The rest of her time went to studying; she was already reviewing the third-year curriculum. Sometimes she and Lu Yaozhi arranged to go shopping in the evening.
Lu Yaozhi was thrilled when she learned Song Cheng would be going to No. 1 High School. Song Cheng also asked Lu Yaozhi to recommend a taekwondo school. Even though the System had already put the theory in her head, everyone around her knew she’d never taken lessons or sparred with anyone, so she had no idea how good she actually was.
The taekwondo school Lu Yaozhi recommended was at Di Yi Plaza, five kilometers from the residential complex. Lu Yaozhi had trained there herself, and she was already at red-belt level. As soon as she heard Song Cheng wanted to learn taekwondo, she enthusiastically recommended the school. “A beauty needs to be able to protect herself. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a talent for it—just learn a couple of moves, enough to get by.” Of course, she’d said that before Song Cheng started training. After Song Cheng had practiced with the instructor for just two lessons, he rated her as the most talented student there. Lu Yaozhi said to Song Cheng, “I never would’ve guessed. You look so small and delicate, but you’re actually talented at this. I’m not worried about other people picking on you anymore. Just don’t go picking on them.” Song Cheng could only roll her eyes inwardly. The reason she did it only in her head was that the System said a well-mannered, refined beauty couldn’t make such an unbecoming gesture. So Song Cheng redeemed the Complete Etiquette Guide, too, and had to endure the System supervising her practice twenty-four hours a day. It was a real ordeal, but the results were obvious. As Lu Yaozhi put it, “What kind of immortal did you go off to meet, to come back looking like a fairy who’s been cleansed and renewed?” Song Cheng thought she wasn’t far off.